Like the six different types of acne aren’t enough to treat, there is actually another one – fungal acne. If you have acne that isn’t going away, no matter what you try, you might have fungal acne. And if you want to learn more about it and how to get rid of fungal acne, keep reading.
What is fungal acne
Fungal acne is actually not acne but the inflammation of the hair follicle (pityrosporum folliculitis).
Let’s start at the beginning. We already know that our sebaceous glands produce sebum (oil), and we also have bacteria (good and bad) in our skin. But there is also a yeast called Malassezia. Usually, all those bacteria, fungi and sebum are balanced in our skin, so it stays healthy. But sometimes, an imbalance can happen, and that’s when acne or fungal acne can appear. And where bacteria causes ‘regular’ acne, this yeast causes fungal acne.
And even though they look the same, they are not. Fungal acne often comes alongside regular acne, and it’s often hard to differentiate them.
How to recognise fungal acne
Fungal acne looks very similar to other types of acne. You can recognise it by having a cluster or a uniform line of small bumps or pimples over your forehead. Those pimples have no head or puss and are usually skin coloured or can be a bit red.
Fungal acne doesn’t really look that bad compared to, for example, pustules or cystic acne, but it’s rather annoying and gives your skin a rough texture. Sometimes, putting your makeup over the top can accentuate it even more.
Because they are very similar to acne, you can recognise fungal acne if it’s not going away as quickly as other acne. Fungal acne can often be quite itchy, so if you are experiencing itchiness around your pimples, you might have fungal acne. Another sign that you have fungal acne is if you’re treating it with an anti-acne product, and it’s not going away.
Fungal acne characteristics:
- small bumps, uniform in size
- itchy
- no puss
- in straight lines or clusters on the forehead or scattered over the cheeks
- can also be found on the shoulders, neck or upper back
- can be red or skin colour
- regular acne treatments don’t affect it
What causes fungal acne
As I said above, fungal acne is caused by an overgrowth of yeast naturally occurring in our skin. That can be due to the overproduction of sebum that creates a beneficial environment for yeast or due to the overuse of antibacterial products. Those antibacterial products kill all the bacteria on the skin and create a thriving environment for yeast to overgrow.
Also, it’s worth noting that fungal acne usually happens in the summertime when it’s humid and warm because that’s the best environment for yeast to grow. So, if you are training a lot and your skin gets hot and damp (sweaty), you have a higher chance of developing fungal acne. Or if you live in an area that is hot and humid.
Another reason you might get fungal acne is a diet high in sugar and carbohydrates. Foods like sweets and other carbohydrate-rich foods can feed the yeast and cause it to grow even more.
Lastly, fungal acne can appear with the use of medications such as antibiotics or steroids or along with a disease such as diabetes.
Possible causes of fungal acne:
- living in a hot and humid environment
- use of antibiotics or antibacterial products on your skin
- a diet high in sugar and carbohydrate
- tight-fitting clothes
- not showering straight after a workout
- some diseases, such as diabetes or compromised immune system
How to get rid of fungal acne?
In short, the best thing to do is to create conditions where it can’t thrive. So no damp and hot skin.
Because this condition is caused by yeast and not bacteria, the best way to treat it is with antifungal creams or antifungal medication. Other potential acne treatments, such as antibiotics or anti-acne products, won’t affect fungal acne. And, unfortunately, it won’t go away on its own.
We also need to restore the balance between bacteria, yeast and sebum. And to do that, we need to eliminate any circumstance where fungal acne can thrive.
That means:
- shower regularly, and straight after working out
- wear loose clothes
- use anti-dandruff shampoo as a body/face wash
- use antifungal creams
- use a prescription medication
Shower regularly
Hopefully, I don’t have to tell you the importance of showering regularly. But I will tell you that to treat fungal acne – you must shower straight after sweating. That means that if you work out, you have to shower straight away. Or, if you have a job where you regularly sweat, you must shower straight after work. By showering immediately after sweating, we eliminate that moist and hot environment fungal acne loves. And by doing so, it cant thrive.
Wear loose clothes
This tip is similar to the previous one. By wearing loose clothes, we ensure that our skin can breathe and there is space for our sweat to evaporate rather than cling to our skin. Tight clothes aren’t beneficial anyway. Not only that they can cause fungal acne or help it thrive, but they can also constrict our blood flow. So just welcome loose clothes, and enjoy the comfort and not having fungal acne.
Use anti-dandruff shampoo as a face or body wash
Anti-dandruff shampoos usually contain an ingredient called pirythione zinc, piroctone olamine or selenium sulfide. Those ingredients have antifungal properties. That means they can inhibit the growth of yeast. If you wonder why those ingredients are in the anti-dandruff shampoos, it’s because dandruff is also caused by yeast.
You can use those shampoos a few times a week if you have fungal acne. If you decide to use anti-dandruff shampoo on your fungal acne, ensure that you leave it on the skin for several minutes because it needs time to work.
And don’t use just any anti-dandruff shampoo. Read the ingredient list and make sure one of those three ingredients is on it.
Use antifungal cream
As this condition is caused by a fungus (yeast), it makes sense to use antifungal cream to treat it. It will remove the fungus and, by doing so, remove the fungal acne too. If you want to get a cream that can help with fungal acne, look for the following ingredients:
- clotrimazole
- butenafine
- ketoconazole
Use a prescription antifungal medication
If all else fails, and you don’t see any improvement within a few weeks of applying these tips, go to the doctor. They will be able to diagnose your fungal acne and give you the correct prescription medication, usually oral antifungal medication.
How to prevent it from happening
Generally, by sticking to your regular skincare routine and having showers regularly, you should be able to keep your skin fungal acne free. By doing these things, you can maintain the balance on your skin and keep it healthy.
But if you overuse antibacterial products on your skin, overuse antibiotics or have a diet full of sugar, fungal acne may appear. So to prevent it from happening, follow these tips:
- shower regularly
- wear loose clothing
- shower and wash your face straight after sweating
- have a balanced diet without too much sugar or carbohydrates
These tips are easily achieved and are just regular habits for most people. And if you don’t follow these habits already, it’s very easy to incorporate them into your life.
Conclusion
Fungal acne isn’t something that happens to everyone, and once it does, it can be tricky to get rid of it. But there are ways and easy swaps that can help you to achieve that. Fungal acne is not the same as regular acne, and you need to be able to recognise the difference. Once you establish you have fungal acne, you can start implementing the tips in this blog post. The biggest one is to create an environment that doesn’t support fungal acne. And that is having skin that isn’t hot and damp. So, that means whenever you sweat, wash your skin straight away. Be it after a workout or a hard day at work.
If you follow these tips, you should be able to get rid of fungal acne within a few weeks. But if, after three to four weeks, your fungal acne is still present, you should visit your doctor to get a proper diagnosis and to get a targeted medication that will help you get rid of fungal acne.
I hope you find this post helpful, and let me know if you ever experienced fungal acne and how did you deal with it.
